While the press breathlessly reports who has raked in the most cash in the governor’s race, the publicly available campaign finance reports hold a bigger story.

It is no surprise that three of the top four breadwinners are the legacy candidates: Hannah Pingree (D), Jonathan Bush (R), and Angus King, III (D). But other numbers reveal something alarming: Those candidates also had the fewest unique donors and the highest percentages of money coming from out of state.

H. Pingree received $1.4 million from just 1,800 unique donors, and nearly half (47%) of her total dollars came from out of state. Bush’s $1.3 million came from a mere 700 unique donors, with 65% of his winnings coming from out of state. King, with 2,200 unique donors, also received nearly two thirds (64%) of his $900,000 from out of state.

Meanwhile, Troy Jackson received $644,000 from 10,207 unique donors—more than those of the three richest Democratic campaigns combined— with 28% of his total dollars from out of state. Shenna Bellows received $1 million from 5,796 unique donors, with 21% of her dollars coming from out of state.

Mainers are facing severe economic crises that have been building for years. The big campaign finance story is not who’s got the most cash. It’s that the candidate with the longest, strongest, most consistent record for rejecting the influences of big money has support from regular Mainers far and above that of any other candidate. The message is clear: Maine is not for sale.

Carla White lives in South Thomaston